Approximately 1,200 people have been evacuated from the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday after a fire erupted at the iconic Paris landmark.
French authorities confirmed the flames originated in the elevator shaft between the first and second floors of the structure, per Newsweek.
Social media users described the unfolding scene, with one person posting on X (formerly Twitter): “A fire is currently raging at the Eiffel Tower.
The monument has just been evacuated. An emergency response company has established a perimeter, but firefighters are unable to access the flames.”
Another witness wrote: “A fire is in progress at the Eiffel Tower. Flames were observed in the elevator shaft between the 1st and 2nd floors. All people in the vicinity have been evacuated. The firefighters are still working.”
Authorities believe the fire began due to an overheating device near an elevator cable, Boulevard Voltaire reported, citing police sources. Despite challenges accessing the blaze, firefighters managed to bring the situation under control, according to The Mirror.
Julien Tellier, a journalist for Boulevard Voltaire, stated: “Around 1,200 people were evacuated. The firefighters have reportedly identified the origin of the flames as overheating of a cable. The fire has been brought under control and is now out.”
The Eiffel Tower, one of the most recognized structures in the world, sees between 15,000 and 25,000 visitors daily, according to statistics from RoadGenius.
The incident evokes memories of the devastating fire that engulfed Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral in April 2019.
That blaze burned for nearly 15 hours, collapsing the cathedral’s spire and severely damaging its roof. French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to restore the historic landmark, stating at the time: “We will rebuild the cathedral even more beautifully and I want it to be finished within five years. And we can do it.”
Notre Dame reopened this year, with world leaders, royals, and dignitaries, including president-elect Donald Trump, attending a December ceremony celebrating its restoration.
Despite the scale of the evacuation at the Eiffel Tower, no injuries have been reported.
Authorities are expected to continue their investigation into the cause of the fire to prevent future incidents.
